What is the Role of a Surveyor?

What is Surveying?

Surveying is both the profession and science of accurately evaluating the distances and angles of the position of points within a three-dimensional area. Simply put, it determines the distances between certain objects and the angles of the ground between them. It is most commonly used when it comes to evaluating land, especially so in building and construction. It is also commonly used by governments to establish land maps and boundaries of ownership between several parties. To accomplish this task, Surveyors will use a combination of mathematical elements, such as trigonometry and geometry, while also applying rules of engineering, physics, and even law.

Land Surveyors

Perhaps the most well-known within their profession, this type of surveying, known as “land surveying”, usually involves a very in-depth study of the area, and not just on a physical level. Along with the usual information gathering through field measurements and observations, they also deal with questionnaires and research of any particular legal instruments that may be involved and also collate data analyses which help support the future planning of an area, when it comes either to establishing property boundaries or planning future renovation and construction.

In most cases, land surveyors are called to certify previous or current surveys of plans and maps, subdivision boundaries, judicial surveys and other registered land surveys. They are also called on to deal with a number of associated services that typically include mapping as well as any data accumulation related to it, as well as potential layouts and plans for construction. This usually involves very precise measurements and evaluations of angles, length, elevation, area and volume.

A Surveyor’s Role in History

Surveying has been absolutely essential throughout humanities’ development, even though it wasn’t as advanced as it is today. Surveying is required whenever any form of construction is within the planning stages of its development, and is a requirement due to the potential environmental safety risks that must be factored in. The most familiar and modern examples of Surveying are found, as stated before, in any type of building and construction, but it’s also involved in fields of transportation as well as communication, mapping and several legal applications.

Before we had the myriad of technological methods which are now implemented by modern surveyors, more primitive methods were used chains with links made in uniform lengths, which when used in specific conditions, could be used to measure horizontal distances.
Further down the track, the compass would be used as a measurement tool in place of uniform chain-links. In this case, the measurements could be much more accurately made using deflections from the magnetic bearing to provide the data required. Eventually improved compasses would be used, along with additional instruments such as mounted telescopes, which would allow for precise sightings, and verniers (an ancestor to the modern protector), which allowed for surveyors to judge angles to the fraction of a degree.

This combination of tools is more famously known as the tool of an early European explorers, and is depicted throughout history as a valuable tool.